Sister’s doing it for herself

SURANNE JONES became an unlikely sex symbol filming war drama The Crimson
Field – wearing combat boots and a man’s overcoat.

The actress stars in the BBC1 show as Sister Joan Livesey, a Voluntary Aid
Detachment nurse aiding wounded First World War soldiers in northern France.

And Suranne said that although her curves were covered up, she still made a
big impression with the men on set — her co-star Jeremy Swift saying her
character was foxy despite her short hair and big boots.

Suranne said: “Joan is politically and socially forward-thinking. She’s a
reservist from Liverpool and she’s never worked in an Army hospital.

“She’s told the girls she doesn’t have a partner but wears an engagement ring.
So we’ll find out a little bit more about who her partner is.

“She’s a suffragist and she’s a very modern thinker. She causes a bit of stir.”

Suranne went on: “I remember Jeremy saying, ‘You look great — quite sexy,
actually.’ But as a character back then, he would have been horrified that
this woman turned up in a gentleman’s greatcoat on a bike!

“The costume department did a great job. You watch the girls in and out of
uniform, the detail is wonderful — although the goggles were made for men.

“When you put the goggles on they go to either side, like Toad of Toad Hall!
The girls who did the stunt riding couldn’t see very well. It was very
dangerous for them. But they did brilliantly. Obviously, it wasn’t me!”

Suranne stars alongside Hermione Norris, Kerry Fox, Oona Chaplin and Kevin
Doyle in the series, which is part of the BBC’s First World War season to
mark the conflict’s 100th anniversary.